Thread by @Deck12G

Continue "Practicing Love" now!

Probably everyone agrees we need more?

Follow along for notes

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What are some things you have had to practice in order to get good at?

If you want to get better at something, you have to practice it.

1John 4:7-13 NIV—Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.…

via @biblegateway

Disciples keep PRACTICING love because it is themostimportant thing we can do.

1 John 4:7 "...let us LOVE one another, for love comes from God."

John 13:34-35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another."

Love is a DISCIPLESHIP issue.

Growth in discipleshipis measured by how WELL we love.

- Phileo - friendship love
- Philautia - self-love
- Mania - obsessive love
- Ludus - infatuated love
- Storge - family love
- Eros - romantic love
- Pragma - enduring love
- Agape - unconditional love (MOST UNCOMMON)

John used "agape"

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, lets us 'AGAPE' one another, for 'AGAPE' comes from God."

Why did he use this? The others come from within ourselves. Agape is the ONLY one that comes from God.

We are damaged as a result of sinful humans who have failed to love us well with human love.

We haven't been loved with the love that comes from God, if we failed to realize it.

I want to love and be loved with AGAPE love.

v. 12 "If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made COMPLETE in us."

- "Telios" - reaches it's full expression; fulfills it's purpose.

1.People are made to be loved with the love thatcomes FROM God.

• There’s HOPE for any relationship when we learnto lovewithGod’s love. (AGAPE)
- V. 7
- God IS love
• Trinitarian love is the model for all HEALTHY relating.
- Father (God), Son (Jesus), Holy Spirit
- Eternal
• The essence of Trinitarian love is OTHER - centeredness.

"God's love (AGAPE) has been poured out into our HEARTS..." Rom. 5:5

Eph 3:17-Eph 3:19 NIV—so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you… classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?searc… via @biblegateway

2. God islove& will FILL the heartsofHischildrenwithHis AGAPE love.
• Everyhumanisabletolovetosomedegree,butGodbothenlargesourcapacityand
superchargesourABILITYtolove (AGAPE)likeChrist.
• Discipleship is the PROCESS of learning to love like Christ.

V.9 "This is how God SHOWED his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

- 'Phanaraho' - Made manifest, made visible

V.10 "This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrafice for our sins."

3. God displays His love bysending Jesus to make His love VISIBLE.
• Discipleship begins with Jesus as our Savior AND Rabbi (teacher).

#Jesus didn't die on the cross ONLY so you could die on the cross and go to heaven, he also died so you can demostrate what HIS love looks like on earth.
• Disciples KEEP practicinglovebecauseit“tangibilifies” (makes real) God’s love FOR US AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

- When God wants to love your neighbor, He fills you with His love.

4. God EMPOWERS us to love by filling us with His Holy Spirit.
• We can only love as true disciples of Jesus as we are FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

2 Tim 1:7

Wow what a powerful, DEEP sermon, this morning on a LOVE that surpasses knowledge.

Eph 3:17-19 NIV—"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge..." classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?searc… via @biblegateway

Please watch the sermon for the full context. DM or ask a pastor.

@OpenDoorTV

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@threadreaderapp Unroll please?